The Princess’ Shadow Guard Cannot Be Too Clever

r>If you can’t stand it, just tell me.
We can take our time.
There’s no rush.”

Removing her cloak, Ming Qin half-hid Murong Yan in her arms and slowly made their way towards the morning market.
Fearing that the crowded marketplace might be too much for Murong Yan to handle, Ming Qin placed her on a bamboo bench near the entrance before excitedly jumping into the market.

Holding her cheek, Murong Yan looked at Ming Qin’s impulsive attitude as if she wanted to buy everything.
She wanted to laugh, but her view was suddenly blocked by the figures of some men.

“Hey beautiful, why are you here alone? Who are you waiting for?”

The man in fancy clothes at the forefront of the group looked at the maskless Murong Yan with a teasing smile.
“Aren’t you waiting here for your ideal husband, me?”

The men behind him whistled and roared with laughter at his words.

Murong Yan was not angry, but rather bored by the men’s advances.

She wanted to get up and leave, but her weak legs were still trembling slightly, so she had to be patient and replied, “I am indeed waiting for someone to please me, but fortunately it’s not you.”

The men were even more enthusiastic when they saw that the woman in civilian clothes had the courage to talk back.
“Aigoo! You’re a very clever and articulate girl, too good for an ordinary man with such a beautiful face,” said the man in the lead confidently as he straightened his collar.
“I’ll have to keep you company.”

Meanwhile, the guard with a sword at his waist seemed familiar with the process and echoed his master’s words, “This young master is the second son of the current Minister of Justice, isn’t he? If you were to become his concubine, you would be a phoenix on a branch.”

The Ministry of Justice?

Isn’t that the most corrupt faction, the department where the Crown Prince and his men control the dismissal, promotion and transfer of civil officials and use their power to manipulate the court?

Moreover, the son of the Minister of Justice is a notorious playboy, known for oppressing the people and taking advantage of women.
He’s just a bully in the skin of a government official.

As Murong Yan thought about this, she lowered her voice and spoke unpleasantly, “A good bird chooses a tree to live in.
Furthermore, I have only ever envied those in true love, and I have never wanted to be a concubine.
I’m afraid this withered branch will have to look elsewhere.”

“You!”

The man in the fancy clothes froze for a moment, taken aback by the comparison to a withered branch made by this common woman, and was momentarily speechless.

“However, you are right about one thing.”

With contempt in her eyes, Murong Yan looked at the man in front of her, dressed up in flashy clothes that announced to the world he was a son of a nobleman, and coldly snorted, “All the men in the world are indeed unworthy of me, including your father.”

The man’s face turned red with fury as he shouted, “You foul-mouthed woman! I want to see if you can still talk back in bed, underneath me!”

The man’s unpleasant roar had annoyed Murong Yan to the point where she was about to get up and leave.

As she made a move to go, the man reached out to grab her collar, but before he could lay a hand on her, another woman appeared in front of him.

Tall and smiling, she held two hot cakes in her hand as she knocked the man’s hand away with lightning speed.

But her eyes shone with a ferocious light, and she glared at him, making the man feel a bit intimidated.

“What do you want from my lady, sir?” Ming Qin stepped forward to protect Murong Yan behind her.

“I’m in pain!” The man in fancy clothes suddenly swung his hand around and wailed loudly.

“How dare you hit me? Men!” Several guards with swords gathered around them, drawing their swords in an intimidating manner, arrogantly.

“Does it hurt?”

Ming Qin didn’t feel any tension.
She just tilted her head in confusion and clenched her hand.
She thought she hadn’t hit him very hard, just a light tap.

“How will you make amends to me now!” The man in fancy clothes roared, veins appearing on his neck.

Behind her, Murong Yan frowned, about to speak up, but Ming Qin reached out to stop her.

Handing Murong Yan the hot cakes, Ming Qin smiled reassuringly and whispered, “Don’t make a sound.
Don’t let anyone spot you.”

Ming Qin turned around, her smile gone, and faced the group of men with a serious expression.
“If that’s what you want, an eye for an eye, then I’ll let you give me a punch.”

The man in fancy clothes was surprised by the woman’s proposal.
His eyes widened, and he responded with excitement, “That’s what you said!”

The man sized up Ming Qin, who appeared plain and was dressed shabbily, without any intention of showing her mercy.

He licked his lips and advanced towards her, flicking his wrist.
Observing her calm and unconcerned expression, he yelled, “Don’t you even think about dodging!”

Ming Qin remained carefree and said, “Go ahead, I won’t dodge.” She spread her legs slightly and hugged her arms to her chest.

“Alright.”

The man clenched his fist and bent down to gather strength, twisting his back and punching Ming Qin in the face.

Despite feeling as though he had hit a hard, rocky surface and experiencing intense pain, the man remained smug as he watched Ming Qin get knocked backwards from the impact of his punch.

Ming Qin stood up straight and calmly asked, “So, are you satisfied now?”

Her swollen cheek didn’t seem to faze her.

The man in fancy clothes looked at Ming Qin in horror.
He couldn’t believe that she didn’t seem to feel any pain after taking his punch.

“Don’t you… feel any pain?” he asked, his voice shaking.

Ming Qin calmly touched her swollen cheek and replied, “No, I don’t.”

The man couldn’t understand her calm and fearless demeanor, and muttered, “You’re crazy!”

He quickly gathered his guards and left, still in shock.

Ming Qin was a bit confused by their reaction, but also relieved that they had gone.

Ming Qin smiled, unfazed by the redness of her cheek, and turned to look at Murong Yan with concern.
“Would you like to try the hot cakes and see if they’re good?”

But Murong Yan kept her head down.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you like them? Should I get you something else?” Ming Qin crouched down, only to find Murong Yan with red eyes, as if she had been crying.
In that moment, anger surged within her, and her eyes glinted with murderous intent.
“Did those men hurt you?”

The sword was drawn.

Murong Yan remained silent, and only spoke after a brief pause.

“You’re really stupid.”